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37 HOSPITALITY / RESTAURANTS / BARS WHERE TO GOIN BERLIN WWW.WHERETOGOINBERLIN.COM CLUBS / EVENTS / SHOPPING / CULTURE Remembering the Berlin Wall Susanne Muhle Responsible for historical and political education and research at the Memorial The Berlin Wall Memorial is a fascinating insight into the years when Berlin was divided between East and West and stood on the frontline of the Cold War. Susanne Muhle, who is responsible for historical and political education and research at the Memorial, takes us on a tour of one of Berlin’s most important historical sites, and tells us about a new exhibition commemorating 25 years since the Wall came down. The new permanent exhibition is devoted to the historical background of the division of Berlin, focusing on three key questions: Why was the Berlin Wall built? What was the impact of the Wall on the people in East and West? Why did the Wall fall in 1989? The focus of the presentation is on the consequences for the inhabitants of the divided city and their perceptions. The exhibition on the memorial grounds uses the extensive historical remnants – including 220 metres of the original border wall – and tells the history of the people who lived on Bernauer Strasse and who were forced to resettle elsewhere once the wall was built, and who often aspired to get beyond the Wall. The recordings and anecdotes are often very poignant. What kinds of reactions do you see in the people who experience the exhibit? The visitors are very interested, they like to see the remnants of the Wall and receive information about the division of the city. At the end of the exhibition, visitors are invited to express their opinion on paper, and these comments and drawings about the fall of the Wall confirm the importance of remembrance. What is the overall message that people come away with when they have visited your exhibition? The exhibition shows that the Berlin Wall was fundamental to the rule of the GDR regime, but was eventually taken down by people in a peaceful revolution. The message of the exhibition is that freedom and democracy are not obvious, but can be achieved and must be defended. Who should go? People of all ages are invited to visit the Berlin Wall Memorial, from those who can remember the time of the division of Germany to those who were born after the fall of the Wall. For very young visitors, the exhibition offers special texts for children so that they can discover the exhibition themselves. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 6 th March 2015
